The Arrangement by Cassie Verano

Author:Cassie Verano [Verano, Cassie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chelle Ramsey
Published: 2021-01-12T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13 – XIOMARA

“...THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES that we need to be aware of,” I said, looking at the group assembled around us.

Fourteen pairs of eyes were on me, including my father’s. I knew that he was assessing my every word, posture, and how I commanded the room.

I also knew that he assessed the managing directors' body language assembled in the conference room with us to determine how well they received me.

Today was the first time that he had allowed me to lead a meeting at Sheffield Tech. Although the first half of this meeting had gone over well, with everyone providing the requested updates on their department, and the finance department giving us good news on where we were at this quarter versus last year this time, I knew things were about to shift.

“We have two board members that will leave us this January.”

A few eyes shifted away from me, and I saw body postures changing. I refused to read anything into that and continued with what I wanted to say.

“Craig Newby and Harold Whitaker have chosen not to continue in their roles. With their resignation, we have already begun searching for their replacements, and I’m proud to announce that Joanne Stinchcombe and Stephanie Sherrell will replace those members. We are grateful for the years of service those gentlemen have provided, but we look forward to the new direction we’ll be moving in.”

I gave background information on our two new board members without divulging the details behind why the other two had tendered their resignation. It was pretty easy for anyone to determine why that was.

Both Craig and Harold had been on the board for years, and neither of them was happy to see me being groomed to take my father’s place. In their mind, the position should have gone to Charles Washington, my father’s VP. They also had reservations about a woman being in a leadership role.

Unfortunately, not only did Charles lack the vision that this company required to lead it into the future with an aggressive approach towards growth, but he also had a drinking problem. One my father had tried to cover up for many years, and the time for that had passed.

Alternatively, no one knew that if those factors weren’t in place, the role of President and CEO was still coming to me. I was on a first-name basis with most of the board members and had been for years. My father ensured that he positioned me to work closely with them in other capacities in the industries I was trained in. Except for two of the board members, they all wanted me in the role of President and CEO.

After five years, or upon my father’s passing, which I hoped didn’t occur, I would assume ownership of the company in tandem with Russell.

My father had never shared the details of the upcoming merger between Sheffield Technologies and Darden Innovative Solutions with most of the staff.

No one knew the intimate details about Russell and me, nor that our pairing led to the merger that would be happening.

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